MMDA to study trucks’ use of Roxas Boulevard at night

Roxas Boulevard (Wikipedia)

MANILA – Despite some opposition from the truckers group on banning trucks from using Roxas Boulevard, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Wednesday still opened for amenable requests to use Roxas Boulevard during nighttime.

MMDA on Wednesday pushed through with the banning of delivery trucks along Roxas Boulevard.

Emerson Carlos, assistant general manager for operations, said they will study the request of the truckers to allow them to pass Roxas Boulevard from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.

Carlos told reporters in an interview that the request of trucker’s group will be endorsed to the Metro Manila Council-special traffic committee.

The implementation of the truck ban on the 7.6-kilometer-long Roxas Boulevard from Ermita in Manila to Parañaque City that started on Wednesday, was approved by the Metro Manila Council’s Special Traffic Committee.

MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino said the resolution was approved due to the upcoming events like Pope Francis’ visit, the Feast of the Black Nazarene, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit on top of ongoing road projects like the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Elevated Expressway.

Tolentino said that except for Roxas Boulevard, truckers were advised to resume plying their old routes to go in or out of the port areas in Manila.

The truck route, he added, is being implemented for the trucks, covering the southern, eastern, and northern sections of Metro Manila.

Under the truck routes, truckers from port area to Cavitex, can take the Bonifacio Drive, turn left on P. Burgos, Finance Road, Ayala Boulevard, turn right to San Marcelino, left on South Luzon Expressway to destination.

From Cavitex to the port area, truckers can take Governor’s Drive to Slex/Superhighway, turn right to President Quirino Avenue, left on Plaza Dilao, turn right to President Quirino Avenue Extension, left on UN Avenue, turn right on Romualdez St., left on Ayala, Finance Road, P. Burgos, right to Bonifacio Drive to port area.

He said this will “result in the dramatic increase of vehicles that will further congest the streets of Metro Manila, particularly Roxas Boulevard.”

Violators of the measure will be fined Php 2,000 for every offense. The license of the driver who will be apprehended may be suspended for one year.

Heavy vehicles would be allowed to ply their old routes (South Superhighway-Port Area and vice versa, North Diversion Road-Port Area and vice versa, Marcos Highway-Port Area) to and from Manila ports 24/7 except on Dec. 24, 25 and 31 and Jan. 1.

Truckers can take also routes like Ramon Magsaysay Boulevard, Shaw Boulevard, C.P. Garcia Avenue, Gregorio Araneta Avenue, Congressional Avenue and Mindanao Avenue, but they will still be covered by the MMDA truck ban which takes effect from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. and between 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. daily except on Sundays and holidays.

MMDA data showed there are 79,850 cargo trucks and 13,615 trailers plying the streets of Metro Manila daily.

For six months, trucks are barred from plying the 7.6-kilometer-long Roxas Boulevard that covers the cities of Manila and Pasay and Paranaque.

“They (business groups) have to realize that this is for the good of everybody,” said Tolentino.

Norman Adriano, secretary general of the Supply Chain Management Association of the Philippines has warned that the truck ban will cause delays in the delivery and may hike prices of goods.

Steven Cruz, president of the Philippine Amalgamated Supermarkets Association, asked the MMDA to implement the truck ban after the holidays so as not to affect the delivery of goods.

Tolentino clarified that trucks were just re-routed to prevent them from taking on Roxas Boulevard.

The truck route, he added, is being implemented for the trucks, covering the southern, eastern, northern portions of Metro Manila.

To recall, Roxas Boulevard was designated as “express trade lane” to provide additional truckers to help solve the traffic congestion woes in Manila’s ports last June this year.